Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 19 April 2024 at 19:29
This week's We Are EEAST Briefing and Executive Q&A was led by our Chief Executive, Tom Abell.
Introduction from Tom
Starts @ 00:10
Ends @ 08:16
Questions
Q1 – Hello, I am a newly qualified band 6 paramedic. Can I ask why I should stay with EEAST when I can earn £20k a year more with a private firm? The exodus of staff to private firms is worrying and needs to be addressed, the sole reason people are leaving is pay, why are EEAST paying private firms so much?
Starts @ 10:26
Ends @ 10:23
Q2 - At the start of the year the point was raised that with all the vehicles outside running their engines for heat and power, the air inside the ED at Harlow was choking with diesel fumes. A solution was proposed of installing charge points at the hospital but months later we are back in the same situation causing harm to EEAST staff, ED staff and our patients. When can we expect a solution?
Starts @ 10:26
Ends @ 11:09
Additional information - The estates team worked with the Hospital to get charging points outside the hospital - but the Local Authority Planners declined it.
Q3 - Will there be any pathway introduced for critical care/ECP roles for paramedics? If so, when? There seems to be no progression for paramedics which is so sad.
Starts @ 11:11
Ends @ 12:09
Q4 - Hi Tom, do we plan on bidding for 111 contracts?
Starts @ 12:12
Ends @ 13:49
Q5 - EEAST are a significant provider of PTS within our area. In these times of extraordinary pressures, are we doing everything we can to facilitate swift discharges at every appropriate hour including across county borders which seems to be a stumbling block?
Starts @ 13:50
Ends @ 15:58
Q6 – Hi Tom - with Marcus on secondment, there is now no paramedic voice on exec which is really unusual for an ambulance service, so what can we do to ensure the paramedic profession have its voice represented at the highest levels at EEAST? ...and the voice of our profession is not otherwise relegated. Other Trusts have Chief Paramedic Officers, Directors of Paramedicine or Directors of Paramedic Practice to recognise the importance of the paramedic profession in what we do.
Starts @ 16:01
Ends @ 17:30
Q7 - What has happened with the private provider Rapid Response Group?
Starts @ 17:36
Ends @ 17:59
Q8 - Is there any scope for the Trust to provide a level 6 mentor course again? This was available a few years ago and it would be a great opportunity to improve practice education.
Starts @ 18:02
Ends @ 18:47
Additional information - Level 6 mentoring courses are not currently being arranged, but EEAST has commissioned LIVES to deliver clinical supervision and mentoring 1 day courses. More information will be made available in due course.
Q9 - Where are we at with SAP backpay please?
Starts @ 18:49
Ends @ 19:26
Q10 - I'm really concerned by our C1 response times recently - this week I have attended two young patients in cardiac arrest, both had a response time of > 20mins to get a paramedic to scene. We are totally failing these patients, what are we doing to address this?
Starts @ 19:28
Ends @ 20:59
Q11 - Any update on rolling hours being a) visible/trackable and b) no longer an issue. Trust wide staff are being subjected to accrued owed hours which go completely against the policy rolling hours.
Starts @ 21:01
Ends @ 22:45
Q12 - With nurse strikes, is there worry about ambulance staff striking, and consideration on how to prevent this?
Starts @ 22:52
Ends @ 24:51
Q13 - Will any long-term secondments in roles other than HALO ever be made permanent?
Starts @ 24:53
Ends @ 26:11
Q14 - Is there a plan to increase staff morale? I can safely say in my locality morale is definitely at an all-time low.
Starts @ 26:13
Ends @ 27:30
Q15 - Hi Tom, with regards to working from home during the pandemic - are we able to apply for the government 'working from home' tax relief.... and have this backdated? Thanks.
Starts @ 27:32
Ends @ 28:41
Q16 - Is there any assurance that the ECHM call handler framework will be phased out permanently? It is strongly felt that the benefits are far outweighed by negatives such as inappropriate Cat 1 calls, higher C2 volumes, greater demand on all departments within EOC while decreasing morale on crews attending to these calls.
Starts @ 28:42
Ends @ 29:43
Q17 – Hi Tom. It's Paul :) I support Ant's question about Board level representation of at least one ambulance professional to properly inform/guide Board business and as a profession, to demonstrate we recognize this expertise and input at the most senior level. Thank you.
Starts @ 29:46
Ends @ 30:12
Q18 - Would it be feasible to give frontline staff one admin day per month to allow them to keep on top of the various training and update requirements?
Starts @ 30:16
Ends @ 31:09
Q19 - Is the executive team looking to discuss with the AACE around general pay scales? The modern-day service should reflect the demands and expectations i.e., all clinical roles should be 5 and above with key clinical and operational progression.
Starts @ 31:35
Ends @ 32:59
Q20 - On many occasions we are responding to calls that are not as given. What are we doing to have better triage methods and capacity?
Starts @ 33:02
Ends @ 33:49
Q21 - The hospitals are struggling for staff which leads to areas like the discharge lounge not being staffed. In the spirit of collaboration towards a common goal of patient flow, could EEAST offer to staff the discharge lounge?
Starts @ 33:52
Ends @ 34:41
Q22 - Back in October we received an email from Medipro stating our AEMT ETO’s were being removed and we were being allocated Medipro ETO’s. We were also told we would be provided a marker within 10 days of submitting work to Medipro. It is nearly December and every time I ask I keep getting fobbed off by Medipro. This needs to stop. EEAST have let all the AEMTs down. Medipro do not have enough markers. And EEAST should not allow this to happen.
Starts @ 34:43
Ends @ 36:04
Additional information - Update on Apprentice from Hein Scheffer – I have set up a b-weekly meeting with Brain English, MD of MEdiPro, and have raised with him our concern about the time it takes to get portfolios marked. Brian confirmed that he will investigate and will update us at our next meeting on Friday next week. I agree with the question, it is not acceptable, and we will keep a close eye on this with MediPro.
Q23 - Is there a plan to utilise EMTs on RRVs as not all areas use them? And if so how will they be utilised?
Starts @ 36:06
Ends @ 36:42
Q24 - Hi Tom, how are you gaining assurances on local level improvement? On the ground morale is deteriorating and not seeing any changes at all and arguably getting worse.
Starts @ 36:44
Ends @ 37:57
Q25 - Are the Trust going to implement the GRS app - the one that has been put in the trust approved app section?
Starts @ 37:58
Ends @ 38:28
Q26 - Working conditions does not just centre around handover delays and delays at acute hospitals. Can I ask what is being done about being late off, triage system, being sent long distances on nights for inappropriate calls and working with police & fireman (paid substantially) to provide a transportable resource?
Starts @ 38:30
Ends @ 40:52
Q27 - Are there any plans to close outlaying stations in EEAST such as Burnham, SWF crews are never on station there, soon as they sign on they will be given a job 30-40 miles away.
Starts @ 40:55
Ends @ 41:53
Q28 – With regards to secondments, could we develop a planned rotational programme for staff much as the police do to move aspiring leaders throughout different departments? This would support broad development of individuals and promote greater interdepartmental understanding as people work through.
Starts @ 41:55
Ends @ 42:34
Q29 - As part of our escalation plan and in response to the worrying question around C1 response times, are we utilising staff throughout the Trust who have the skills to respond for X day(s) a month? Are we in danger of accepting these risks as BAU?
Starts @ 42:38
Ends @ 43:31
Q30 - You can apply via HMRC website. If you are qualifying for a rebate, they pay the individual via bank transfer separately from your pay from EEAST.
Starts @ 43:35
Ends @ 43:48
Q31 - Will the new Ford/MAN ambulances be on the road before the Mercedes ambulances are decommissioned? If not, is it true that all non-fiat drivers will be redeployed to other roles?
Starts @ 43:50
Ends @ 44:25
Q32 - Can you confirm that the Christmas thank you will not be a badge??
Starts @ 44:28
Ends @ 44:37
Q33 - Will the new MAN ambulances have better heaters? The current ones take 20-30 minutes to bring the treatment area to an acceptable temperature.
Starts @ 44:39
Ends @ 44:58
Q34 - As part of the Patient Safety Team we have a phenomenal amount of work and work pressure - which unfortunately is reactive rather than pro-active. This has been the way for some time now. This is not safe practice. I invite you to come and work alongside one of the team for a day to see, first-hand the challenges we face. Are you preparing to recognise this and increase the budget for our team in the coming year?
Starts @ 45:00
Ends @ 45:47
Q35 - Talking of ECAT capacity.... why are frontline crews being disturbed on their 15-minute period of their break for a c2 call that has been outstanding for 3 plus hours because CCORD said so? Crews are working a minimum of 12 hours a day with a 30-minute rest period while attending very physically and emotionally demanding jobs... while EOC staff have 1-hour breaks.... can this be fixed urgently.
Starts @ 45:52
Ends @ 47:19
Q36 - A number of Band 7 managers (working within T&E and other areas) complete a considerable amount of ops shifts still. When on shift, we are paid Band 6 however, will spend most of our shift answering T&E questions, completing ride outs, and engagement. Why can't we be paid B7 when completing these shifts?
Starts @ 47:49
Ends @ 48:28
Close from Tom
Starts @ 48:30
Ends @ 48:47
You can catch up on previous We Are EEAST Briefings on our Archive page. You can also catch up on Local Manager's Briefings here.
Published 28th November 2022